THE MMQB's Albert Breer wrote the Rams' run to the Super Bowl has given the team's effort to win over spenders in L.A. a "shot in the arm." The timing of the Rams' success "really couldn't be much better." The Rams "led the NFL this year in ratings increase," and they also "led the league in attendance increase." Breer: "Is it New York or Boston or Philly? No, it’s not. And it won’t be that. But given the challenges, it’s hard to look at what the Rams are doing and not think they’re on the right track." Rams Exec VP/Football Operations & COO Kevin Demoff said, "It’s one thing to get people to buy into you, it’s another to change what they’ve done for a long time" (SI.com, 1/27).
A NEW ERA: In Cleveland, Doug Lesmerises wrote Browns co-Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam "will change and are changing," as they would be "hopelessly stubborn not to." There have been some "good people around the Haslams, good people who were mismanaged by the owners." Jimmy Haslam "hasn't been good enough" and he "knows it." He should know he is "surrounded by people that could be good enough this time, if the owners can just be ... less intrusive than they’ve ever been" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/27). Also in Cleveland, Mary Kay Cabot wrote Haslam is making a "concerted effort" to let Browns GM John Dorsey "run the show on the football side." As long as the Browns win, Haslam will let Dorsey have "final say over all things football" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/27).
TROUBLING TIMES: In Colorado Springs, Woody Paige wrote the feud surrounding the Bowlen family's ownership of the Broncos "profoundly affects" the team and its "future off and on the field." A source said that that Brittany Bowlen, the daughter of Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen, could rejoin the franchise soon "if the league requests, but it probably will be when she is 30, in an executive's role." She would "work in all areas for at least five years." Brittany Bowlen's half-sister, Beth Bowlen-Wallace, has been "rejected by the trustees as a possible controlling owner because, the trustees claimed, she 'is not qualified' -- a statement that touched off the Bowlen bad blood hostilities" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 1/27).
